National Addiction Recovery Month

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.  Substance abuse and addiction affect an estimated 25 million Americans; alcoholism afflicts 10 million adults and three million children, while 12.5 million Americans are addicted to other drugs.       Chemically dependent individuals face severe and progressively debilitating problems, including an inability to maintain employment, loss of important relationships, criminal justice involvement, vitamin deficiencies, stomach ailments, liver damage and heart and central nervous system damage.  Families are devastated as well.  Everything begins to revolve around the problem and enormous amounts of energy are devoted to covering up the situation, ignoring it, overcompensating for it, or focusing on a different issue to avoid facing the real problem.

Is alcohol or drug abuse negatively affecting your life?  The following questionnaires can help you decide for yourself if you or a loved one is experiencing difficulty with addiction.  A “yes” answer to one or more questions on either questionnaire indicates that you may need to seek help for the problem.  Answer the questions as honestly as possible. Questionnaire for the User Have you lost time from work due to drinking or other drugs? When you have trouble or feel under pressure, do you drink or use other drugs more heavily than usual? Do you constantly drink more than your friends? Have you ever had a loss of memory or “black out” while drinking or using drugs? Do you find yourself to be in more of a hurry to drink or use than you used to be? Has alcohol or drugs ever jeopardized a job promotion or a family relationship? Have you ever been cited by the police or had an accident because of your alcohol or other drug use? Are you resentful when someone asks you about your drinking or other drug use? Has your doctor ever recommended that you stop alcohol or drug use? Have you failed to keep the promises you have made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your alcohol or other drug use?   Questionnaire for the Family Do you ever lie awake at night worrying about the substance abuser? Have you taken over many chores and duties that you would normally expect the substance abuser to assume or that were once his or hers? Do you often ask, “Where have I failed?” Are you embarrassed to discuss your situation with your friends or extended family members? Do you find yourself lying or covering up for the substance abuser? Do you feel resentful or hostile toward the substance abuser? Do you find it increasingly difficult to trust the substance abuser? Do you find your moods fluctuating wildly as a direct result of the substance abuser’s moods and actions? Do you find yourself playing detective, fearful of what you will find? Is concern for the substance abuser giving you headaches, stomachaches, or heartaches?      The road to individual and family recovery from addiction is challenging, but absolutely possible.  Millions of people have dedicated themselves to recovery from addiction and now lead satisfying and productive lives.  And their families have found ways to live healthy lives whether or not their loved one chooses to embark on the recovery journey.       For more information or for help for addiction, contact the following agencies/programs.  The treatment agencies can assist you in determining your eligibility for reduced fees or subsidized services. Treatment Resources Washington County Recovery Alternative, (740) 568-0733 Southern Ohio Solutions, (740) 376-6454 Marietta Memorial Hospital Chemical Dependency Services, (740) 374-1771 Worthington Center, (740) 423-4225 L & P Services, (740) 376-0930 Support Resources Alcoholics Anonymous, (800) 870-3795 Narcotics Anonymous, (800) 766-4442 Al-Anon  (304) 345-7420